IO – The Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration has declared that villages should display their APBDs in public spaces that can be accessed by residents. Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar has pointed out how this obligation is an aspect of required transparency in the direction of village funds – only through clear information disclosure and transparently regarding village funds can we state there is successful village development.
He explained that the more transparent village development manifests, the more successful it will be appraised as, because the people are observing and paying close attention. Villagers can immediately observe work plans that will be and are being carried out by their leaders.
“We oblige the village, after the village meeting, to have the APBDs displayed or broadcast in public places. This is an aspect of transparency, so that the people can personally oversee village finances and remember the programs that are being carried out,” he said, Monday (8/3/2021).
According to him, the APBDes displayed are not macro issues, but detailed reports on the village government program. All villagers will know – and they have the right to know – what is happening in the village government.
“If this is only done globally, it will be less transparent. For example, the construction of an irrigation canal in Dusun X, several hundred meters from this point to this point. I ask for the report model to be as detailed as necessary so that the community can be precisely aware and monitor its progress,” he added.
Meanwhile, the absorption of village funds nationally, reaching 23,096 villages as of March 8, 2021, is worth IDR 5.34 trillion. Absorption at the location of the Micro-scale restrictions imposed on public activities (PPKM) as of March 8, 2021, reached IDR 3.2 trillion or 13 percent of the IDR 24 trillion budget.
“Alhamdulillah, as we continue to monitor this effort, it is proceeding smoothly. All funding at the village level following the responsibilities and obligations given by the COVID-19 Task Force can be done using Village Funds,” he explained.
He openly concluded that the handling of COVID-19 at the village level was quite effective. Therefore, the government will continue to monitor the development of the Village Funds allocated for COVID-19. The total of all funds that have been disbursed is intended for various objectives, such as the operational financing of the village gate post or the COVID-19 response post.
“There are various terms, according to local wisdom in the village. We provide the widest possible latitude for the village to set priorities according to their respective local wisdom. Because in essence, the village has customs that have been running and which we continue to maintain,” he declared.
He hopes that the continuation of the Village Fund for COVID-19 can work to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in villages, and can strengthen the economy of communities. (eka)